| Middle Distance Track Event |
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COMMON DISTANCES (AND NOT SO COMMON ONES): The standard middle distances are the 800 m, 1500 m, mile (in the US), and the 3000 m (which is often seen as a long distance event). The 3000 m is more common in the US at the high school and collegiate level (along with the US two mile) and is in fact not run at the world championships. 600 m
For women: 800 m The 800 M is run over two laps of the track and has always been an Olympic event. It was included in the first women's track programme in 1928, but suspended until 1960 because of shock and the exhaustion it caused the competitors. By contrast, without today's training regimes, male competitors of the day were expected to run themselves to exhaustion in competition. Tactics In a modern competition, the first 100 m is run in lanes, after which competitors may break for the inside without deliberately obstructing or pushing another competitor (In High School Competitions in the NE USA, races are started in lanes and the break to the inside can be made immediately, again without obstructing another competitor). Running flat out for this distance is impossible and tactics can be a factor in reaching the finish line first. Running in the lead is often considered a disadvantage as trailing runners can choose when to accelerate past the leader, and because of the effect of wind resistance. Runners not in first place on the inside can find themselves boxed if other runners start to overtake them. Running in last place is not recommended as there may be too much ground to make up when the final sprint for the finish starts. In top class races, the lane start usually ensures a brisk pace for the first 200 m. Occasionally, no one will be happy to lead and the field will bunch for the remainder of the first lap leaving a sprint on the second lap. More often, one runner will ensure a fast first lap and the winner will be the one who slows least on the second lap, despite the appearance of sprinting at the finish. However, the occasional 800-meter runner is able to produce a world-class 800 with even laps, or even negative split. Records 800 m runners are often fast enough to run in the 4 X 400 Metres Relay but only Alberto Juantorena and Jarmila Kratochvilova have won major international titles at 400 m and 800 m. Competing successfully at 800 m and 1500 m is more common. World Record for men: World Record for women: =Trivia In the last 11 Olympic Games, athletes from 10 different countries have won the men's 800 metres title. 1000 m
For women: 1200 m
1500 m
This is also known in the US as "the Metric Mile ". The record at this distance for men: For women: 1600 m Mostly popular at the Middle / High school level as a near replacement for the mile on many metric tracks due its 9 meter difference. However the 1500 is the official distance at the College and international level and 1600m runners change to the 1500m when they go into college or become professionals. Mile This length of track, 1760 Yard s, (1609 Metre s), is very common in countries that don't use the Metric System , and is still often referred to as the " Blue Riband " of the track. When the International Amateur Athletic Federation decided in 1976 to recognise only world records for metric distances, it made an exception for the mile and records are kept to this day. Historically, the mile took the place that the 1500 m has today. It is still raced on the world class level, but only at select locations. It can be romantically appreciated as a remnant of the past but is still fiercely contested. It is famous for its 4 Minute Barrier that so many people tried to break. The term "miler" is sometimes also applied to a 1500 m runner. The record at this distance for men: For women: 2000 m
For women: 3000 m
For women: SEE ALSO |
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